Pneumatic door-operating mechanism.



T. R. BROWN. PNEUMATIC DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 1906. RENEWED MAR. 12, 1909; 1,002, 1 95.

IINVENTOR T/zorrmflfirowm Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. R. BROWN. PNEUMATIC DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 190a. RENEWED MAR. 12, 1909.

1 ,002, 1 95. Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

"mmlll v z ATTORNEY Y T. R. BROWN.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

PNEUMATIC APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 1906. RENEW 1,002, 1 95.

ED MAR.12,1909.

Patented Aug; 29, 1911.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

ATTE'JRNEY UNrrE-o STATES PATEN THOMAS E. BROWN, F YORK, N.Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST .VIRGINIA.

PNEUMATIC DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of- Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Application filed March 15, 1906, Serial No. 306,127. Renewed March 12, 1909. Serial No. 483,058.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TrroMAs R..Bnowiv,

. a citizen of the Unitedv States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have in vented certain new and 'useful Improvev ments in Pneumatic Door-Operating Mechanisms, of which the followingis a specification.

The invention relates to improveinents in pneumatic door-operating mechanism, and

it consists in the novel features, arrange ments and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outlatter becoming latched uponreaching its closed position. I thus utilize the air} by whi'ch the door is opened for closing the same and avoid the waste of air which would result if one supply of airfrom the reservoir were employed in opening the doorand another supply'thereof used for} closing the door.

i The mechanical prise, a manually operable control-valve to whose casing a pipe from a reservoir for compressed air will lead, a door-latching device to which a pipe from said casing will extend and pass thence to a cylinder whose piston-rod is connected'with the door, and

a'second pipe'le'ading from said valve-casing to a cylinder whose piston is connected with the said piston-rod. Upon the movement of the control valve to one position the compressed air will pass through its casing to the pipe leading to the door-latching device and after freeing. the latch from looking engagement with the door,trave1 thence to the first mentioned cylinder wherein it will devices for carrying my invention into efiect may vary 1n many react to move the piston-rod in a direction to open the door and hold it open. Thereafter upon the movement of the control valve to another position the air supply pipe from the reservoir will be cut oil and the pipe leading from the valve-casing to the second or closing-cylinder will be placed in communication with the opening-cylinder and its supply pipe system, with the result that the air in said opening-cylinder and its pipe system will expand into the pipe leading to said closing-cylinder and enter the latter, wherein, acting against a piston of larger area than that contained in the opening cylinder, it will reverse the movement of the piston rod and eiiect the closing of the door, the air inthe then connected system of pipes and cylinders exhausting through a suitable vent when the door reachesits closed position and the latch then automatically passing into locking engage- ;ment with the closed door. The opening and closing cylinders may be located below or above the door asoccasion may render most desirable.

' The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a car equipped with door operating mechanism constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the door andthe operating mechanism connected therewith, the door being shown in closed position; Fig. 3 is a vertical"transverse section on the dotted line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section, partly broken away, of the manually operable control-valve and parts connected therewith, the section being on the dotted line 4-4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5'is a top view, partly broken away, of the same, the control-valve operating handle being shown by full lines in the' position it will occupy when the door is in an openpositionf-and by dotted lines inlthe position to which itwill be moved when'the' door is to be closed; Fig. 6 is an enlarged'vertical section through the door-latching devices and parts connected therewith; Fig.7 is a horizontal section throughthe control-valve and its casing on the dottedlline 7-7 of Fig. 4," the valve being shown the position to which it is moved when the door is to be closed; Fig. 8 is a like section, partly broken away, of the same, the valve being shown in the position to which it is moved when the door is to be opened, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of a car whose door is equipped with operating mechanism embodying a modified form of the invention, Fig. 1 illustrating the location of the openin and clos ing cylinders below the plane 0 the door and Fig. 9 representing said cylinders arranged above thedoor.

In the drawings, 10 designates a portion of a common 'car, 11 the door thereof, 12 the control-valve casing, 13 the supply pipe leading thereto from the reservoir, not shown, for compressed air, 14 the pipe leading from saidcasing to the casing 15 for the door latching devices and extending thence (by a branch 30) to the outer end of the opening-cylinder 16, and 17 a pipe leading from the control-valve casing 12 to the outer end of the closing-cylinder 18. The valve within the casing 12 is designated by the numeral 19 and the handle for operating said valve by the numeral 20. The adjoining ends of the cylinders 16, 18 are connected by an open frame 21 through which passes the piston-rod 22, which, in the present instance, is in the form of a toothed bar carrying at one end, within the cylinder 16, a piston '23 and at its other end, within the cylinder 18, a piston 24. Be-

tween the sides of the frame 21, above the piston-rod 22, is mounted a gear wheel 25 which is in engagement with the teeth of said piston-rod and also with a rack-bar 26 secured upon the lower edge of the door 11.

The frame 21 is provided with upwardly ex--- tending arms 27 which straddle the lower edge of the door 11 and preserve the engage ment of the rack-bar 26 with the gearwheel 25.

The valve 19 is hollow and axially rotatable by means of the handle 20, and said valve has its interior chamber in constant communication with the supply pipe 13, which when the valve is turned to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8, is placedl in communication with the pipe 14 through the port 28 formed in the wall of saidvalve and the chamber 29 provided in the valvecasing '12, under which condition the compressed air will pass 'from the pipe 13 to the pipe 14 and thence to the latch casing 15, whence it will pass through the branch pipe 30 to the cylinder 16, for opening the door.

\Vhen the valve 19 is turnedto the position inwhich it is represented in Fig. 7, the port 28 becomes closed and a-channel 311011 the exterior. of the valve establishes a means of communication from the pipe 14and its connections to the pipe 17 and cylinder 18, under which condition the compressed air The interior of the latch casing 15 is shown' in Fig. 6, wherein it will be seen thatsaid casing j contains a cylindrlcal chamber 32 and a piston valve 33 therein,

said piston-.valve'being located directly over the pipe 14 and adapted when in its lower position to close vthe end of said pipe and also the port- 34leadingto' the branch pipe 30. The piston-valve 33 is equipped with a stem 35 which projects upwardly and forms a seat for the spring-latch 36, which is pivoted upon the casing 15 and adapted at its free end ,to engage a catch-arm 37 fastened to the door. Thespring '38 acts to press'the latch 36 down upon the valve stem 35, and, as 'is obvious, the position of the latch is controlled by'the position of said stem; When thecontrol-valve 19 is turned -'to permit the compressed air to flow into the pipe 14 the pressure of said airwill elevate :the piston-valve 33 and consequently turn thelatch 36 upwardly from the catch-arm 37 and free the door preparatory to the opening of the latter. The elevation of the piston-valve 33 also opens the port 34 inthe latch casing 15 and thereby the compressed air is permitted to enter the branch pipe 30andpass to'th'e cylinder 16. So long as the ressure of the air is against the valve 33 the atter will be held in its elevated posi-,

tion, but upon the release of such pressure,

which does not happen until the door 11 has been closed, the valve 33 will descend to its seat and the latch will. automatically reengage the catch-arm 37. The air which passes through the branch pipe 30 to the cylinder 16 acts against the; piston 23 and drives the rod 22'1nto ,tho cylinder 18, and during this movement of said rod the teeth thereon rotate the gear wheel 25 and the latter acting on the rack-bar 26 compels the door 11 to move to its open position. The

door will be held in its open .position so long as the pressure of the air is acting against thelpiston 23. To open the door therefore it is simply necessary for the attendant to turn the control-valve 19-to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 8 and thereby admit the compressed air to the pipe 14 leading to the'latch mechanism and passing thence by a .branch' 30 to the cylinder 16. When it is desired to close the' door the attendant will move the control-handle 20 to the position in which it is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5 and thereby turn the valve 19 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. "Z, thereby cutting off the supply pipe 13 and establishing communication between the pipe 14 and pipe 17;

the compressed air'in the pipe 14 and cylinder 16 will then expand into the pipe 17 and cylinder 18 and acting against the piston 24,

which is 01' larger area than the piston 23, drive the rod 22 to its initial position, reversing the motion of the gear-wheel 25 and closing the door11. When the door reaches its closed position, the piston 24 will have passed beyond the vent apertures in the cylinder 18, and hence at such time the air in the cylinder 18 and connections leading thereto may exhaust through said apertures. As soon as the air in the pipe 14 has suiiiciently exhausted, the piston valve 33 will descend and the latch 36 will reengage the latch arm 37.

I provide the control-valve casing 12 with a vent 41 (Fig. 8) through which air in the cylinder 18 and pipe 17 may escape when the valve 19 is turned to admit air to the'pipe 14 for opening the door.

The modification presented in Fig. 9 resides mainly in locating the .opening and closing cylinders 16, 18 above the door and in connecting the piston-rod thereof by a fixed arm 42 'to the door, and hence Fig. 9'

will be understood without further descrip-,

tion. The door shown in Fig. 9 will move toward the right on opening, while the door shown in Fig. 1 on opening moves to the left.

In both forms or arrangements of the mechanism shown the air used for opening the dooris utilized to close the same, such air during the closing of the door acting against the piston 24 of larger area than the piston 23; i

I do not limit my invention to any special details of form, arrangement or construction other than as may be indicated in the claims,

since I am aware that my invention may be carried into effect in or by various forms and details of mechanisms and I deslre to to secure by Letters Patent, is

1, Door operating mechanism comprising "a rod having rack teeth thereon and provided with a piston at each end, said pistons being of unequal area, a rack bar on the door, a gear-wheel mounted in a fixed frame and respectively meshing with said rod and bar, cylinders inclosing said pistons, means for supplying air to one of said cylinders -for acting against the piston therein and opening the door, and means for thereafter connecting said cylinders to supply the air under pressure to the other cylinder for actving against the piston thereon to close the door; substantially as set forth;

2. Ina-mechanism for operatin a door, stationary cylinders arranged in' ine with each other, a piston operating in each cylinder, said pistons being of unequal area,

a rack connecting said pistons, avalve inechanism for controlling the supply of operating medium, said valve arranged, when actuated, to place said cylinders in communication with each other, and connections operated by the movements of said rack for moving the door.

3. In a mechanism for operating 'a door, in combination, power cylinders-arranged, in line with each other, a piston operating in each cylinder, said cylinders and pistons being of "unequal area, a rack connecting said pistons whereby they move in unison, a valve mechanism operating, when actuated, to control the supply of operating medium, said valve mechanism being also arranged to open communication between said cylinders, means for exhausting said cylinders atthe completion of thestroke in one direction only of the connected pistons, and devices actuated by the movements of said rack for moving the door.

4. In a mechanism for operating a door, in combination, cylinders of relatively different areas, a piston operating in each cylinder, a rack" connecting said pistons where- .by they move in unison, a valve mechanism ings arranged to be uncovered when the pistons complete their stroke, and means actuated by the movements of said rack for moving the door.

5. In a pressure actuated mechanism for operating a door, in combination, power cylinders, a piston operating in each cylinder, said pistons being connected together intermediate said cylinders to move in unison, means operated by said intermediate connections to move the door, and a valve mechanism for controlling the supply of pressure medium to said cylinders, one of said cylinders having exhaust openingsarranged to be uncovered at one limit of movement of the piston operating therein.

6. In a mechanism for operating a door, a piston rod having a piston at each end, one of said pistons being of larger area than the other, cylinders inclosin said pistons, means intermediate said cylinders connecting said rod with the door, means forsupplying compressed air to one of said cylinders .for acting "against the piston therein and opening the door, and means for thereafter cutting ofi the air supply and connecting said cylinder with the other cylinder.

so that the air used for opening the ,(pdoor er' an act:-

' other, cylinders inclosing said pistons, means intermediate said cylinders connecting said rod with the door, a manuallybperable control valve connected with a source of supply for the compressed air, a pipe leading from said valve to one of said cylinders for directing the air thereto to open the door, and

a second pipe leading from said valve to the other cylinder wherein the said piston of larger area is located, said valve upon being operated to close the door being adapted to cut ofi the air supply and place said pipes into communication with each other, whereby the air used to open the door may expand into said second pipe and its cylinder and act against the piston therein to close the door, substantially as set forth.

8. In a door operating mechanism, amovable member having opposing faces of unequal area, means connected to said member intermediate said faces for moving the door, a manually operable control valve connected with a source of supply for compressed air, a pipe leading from said valve to one of said faces for directing the air thereto for opening the door, and a second pipe leading from said valve to the other of said faces, said valve when operated to close the door also operating-t0 cut oil the air supply and pipes in communication with each place said other.

9. In a door operating mechanism, in combmation, stationary cylinders, a piston op combination, cylinders arranged in line with each other, pistons operating in said cylin ders, said pistons being of unequal area and connected to move together, a valve mecha nism for controlling the supply of pressure medium to one of said cylinders, and the communication of said cylinders with each ocales other, and means intermediate said pistons and connected to the door, to move the latter when said pistons are moved.

11. In a mechanism for operating a door, cylinders. of unequal area, a piston. operating in each cylinder, means connecting said pistons whereby they move in unison, a valve mechanism for controlling the supply of pressure medium to one of said cylinders to move the pistons in one direction, said valve mechanism also operating to place'said cylinders in communication with each other to move the pistons in the other direction, and connections intermediate said pistons, and

operated by the movements thereof'for moving the door.

12. In a mechanism for operating a door, in combination, power cylinders, a piston operating in each cylinder, said pistons being of unequal area and connected together to move in unison, a'valve mechanism for controlling the supply of pressure medium to one of said cylinders, and the communication of said cylinders with each other, means for exhausting said cylinders at the completion of the stroke of the pistons in one direction only, and means connected intermediate the pistons, and operated by the movements thereof, for moving the door.

13. In a door operating mechanism, power cylinders, connectedpistons respectively operatingin said cylinders, said pistons having oppositely presented faces of unequal area, means intermediate the pistons for connecting the same to the door, pressure supply and exhaust connections, and means for con trolling said connections, said means operating to supply pressure to the face of one of the pistons to move the door in one direction, and to place said cylinders in communication with each other to supply equal pressure to the faces of both pistons to move the door in the opposite direction.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 13th day of March A. D. 1906.

THOMAS R. BROWN.

Witnesses ARTHUR Mmon, CHAS. C. GILL. 

